Riding the Rails

Here are stories of homeless teenagers during the Great Depression who crisscrossed the country by hitching rides on freight trains. Click on the sidebar for information about the film "Riding the Rails," available from PBS, including a transcript of the film. Special features include stories of some of the "rail riders", hobo songs, and obstacles faced by African Americans. There is a timeline of the Great Depression, maps of the train routes, and a teacher's guide.